The Director of the Abuja School of Social Thought and Politics, Sam Amadi, has characterized the upcoming 2027 election as the most “farcical” in the history of Nigeria. Despite his assessment of the election’s absurdity, he noted that some self-proclaimed intellectuals and technocrats continue to participate in the process.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Amadi asserted that current presidential candidates are primarily positioning themselves against Peter Obi, the candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), rather than the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu. In a post on , Amadi observed that, “Everyone is running against @PeterObi for the presidency, not against the incumbent president @officialABAT”.

Resistance to Criticism

Regarding the political resilience of Peter Obi, Amadi argued that attacks on his reputation have failed to impact his popularity for several reasons:

• Absence of Scandal: Obi maintains a strong political appeal because there are no credible allegations of corruption or significant scandal against him, a record Amadi claims other presidential candidates cannot match.

• Elitist vs. Factual Attacks: Amadi contended that the criticism Obi faces is largely defined by “elitist derision” rather than evidence-based revelations.

• Public Service Record: He credited Obi’s public service history with shielding him from successful political attacks.

• Strongest Candidate: Ultimately, Amadi maintains that Peter Obi remains the “best available” option on the current presidential slate.

Crude oil prices declined on Monday due to emerging optimism surrounding US-Iran negotiations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Price Drop: Brent crude fell 1.7% to $79.19 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 0.6% to $75.37 a barrel.

  • Diplomatic Progress: Following a delay caused by hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, talks commenced in Switzerland, led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

  • De-escalation Roadmap: Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar reported that the discussions were “positive and constructive,” resulting in an agreement to establish a communication line to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

  • Future Outlook: A High-Level Committee has committed to a roadmap targeting a final agreement within 60 days, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that the mediation has made significant progress toward ending the war in Lebanon.

  Global Stock and Currency Performance

  Market reactions were varied following the news:

  • Stock Indices: Gains were noted in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Bangkok, while markets in Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Manila, and Jakarta declined. European markets in London, Paris, and Frankfurt opened higher.

  • Market Sentiment: Analysts note that despite the ceasefire reports, the Middle Eastern situation remains fragile.

  • Currency Fluctuations: The dollar strengthened against the yen, rising to 161.72, while the pound fell to $1.3210 amid political uncertainty in the UK.

  UK Political Developments

  The British pound faced downward pressure due to concerns regarding potential leadership changes within the UK government.

  • Political Shifts: Expectations are rising that Labour politician Andy Burnham may replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following a recent by-election victory and mounting pressure from within the Labour party.

  • Economic Concerns: Reports indicate Prime Minister Starmer may announce his resignation on Monday. Investors are reportedly worried that a transition to Burnham could lead to increased government spending and a heavier national debt burden.

In a recent appearance on the Creativtea Podcast, Nollywood actress and reality TV star Beverly Osu revealed that she once aspired to become a Reverend Sister before pursuing a career in entertainment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶